MetroPCS Launches Rich Communication Services

MetroPCS today launched Rich Communication Services, or RCS, under the joyn brand. Joyn is a standards-based Android application that collects and merges messaging services, such as IM and SMS. The app lets users conduct threaded text conversations and supports presence, which lets users know when their friends are available. It also makes it easier to share photo and video content when the user is on an active phone call (this is traditionally not possible on CDMA-based devices). Last, it lets MetroPCS customers make voice and video calls to other joyn users via Wi-Fi. The service will first be available on the Samsung Galaxy Attain. MetroPCS said 10 more handsets will be joyn-enabled by the end of November. The service is meant to coax users into using the carrier-branded messaging tools rather than replacement services from the likes of Skype, iMessage, Google Talk, and others.